It's the end of an age for Ice Age fans, as the studio behind the beloved animated movies has shut down for good.
However, the filmmakers couldn't say goodbye without tieing up a loose end that has kept viewers on the edge of their seats for over 20 years.
In a bittersweet farewell to audiences, Blue Sky Studios shared a video on social media in which Scrat - the saber-toothed squirrel who became the studio's mascot - finally gets to eat the acorn that he spent all five Ice Age movies pursuing.
"In the final days of @BlueSkyStudios, a small team of artists came together to do one final shot," they wrote alongside the clip, adding: "This shot is a farewell, a send-off on our own terms."
Last April, Disney announced that they would be closing down the animation studio due to coronavirus, per a report by Deadline. At the time, Blue Sky's co-founder Chris Wedge shared a heartfelt message to audiences which read:
"For the past thirty-four years, we, like our single minded character Scrat, have reached for something that at times seems unattainable. Yet time after time we’ve managed to get our arms around our own versions of that elusive acorn.
Unfortunately, it’s not possible to hold onto anything forever.
We’ve had more fun bringing our movies to life than anyone should be allowed. We hope you’ve been able to feel some of that joy. Thank you, from the bottom of our collective Blue Sky hearts, for being with us all these years."
As well as the beloved Ice Age franchise, Blue Sky Studios were also responsible for a whole host of animated films including Rio, Rio 2, Dr Suess’ Horton Hears A Who, The Peanuts Movie, and Spies in Disguise.
Disney reps told Deadline that despite the studio's success, the impact of the pandemic had left them with no choice but to shut it down. "Given the current economic realities, after much consideration and evaluation, we have made the difficult decision to close filmmaking operations at Blue Sky Studios," they said.
But for fans of Blue Sky's movies, this may not be the last we ever see of their work. The studio's final film Nimona - which was canceled despite being almost complete - is rumored to have been picked up by streaming giants Netflix, according to a report from The Verge.
.jpg_JNmcnO?tr=h-184)
